Lightyear is developing long-range solar electric vehicles based on a holistic design philosophy. Efficiency is at the heart of everything we do: our proprietary technology, embedded in the core components including the powertrain, thermal management system and solar roof, is optimised to that one end.
Our innovations in hardware are mirrored by the efficiency of our software, which translates into a convenient user experience based on our own developed software architecture and user interface.
Founded first Solar Team Eindhoven in 2012
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) — Co-founder
Developed core IP on Distributed-MPPT for most efficient solar array. Former team member of Solar Team Eindhoven
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) — Co-founder
Previous CFO Fatboy & EldoLED. Certified Public Auditor (Dutch Registeraccountant)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Automotive product development specialist. Former Inalfa Roof Systems, Punch Powertrain and Royal Philips
VP Engineering
Previous Executive Director of Procurement at Royal DSM. Experience at Volvo Car Corporation and VDL Nedcar
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Former IP Specialist at FEI Company. Wrote over one hundred of patents on high tech systems
IP Manager
One of the first Lightyear employees. In her role, she supported Lightyear’s growth from 7 to 120+ employees
Chief People & Processes Officer (CPO)
Part of the 2015 World Championship team at Solar Team Eindhoven. Msc in Industrial Design
Chief Strategy — Co-founder
Part of first Solar Team Eindhoven as battery storage engineer
Co-founder
Part of the first Solar Team Eindhoven. Worked for Philips, ASML and led design collaboration with Granstudio
Chief Design — Co-founder
Our advisors provide valuable advice within their areas of expertise as well as helping to connect us to their network.
Bob O'Connor — Partner at Wilson Sonsini
Camilla van den Boom — Strategy Director at Sturrm
Ton Backx — President Institute for Photonic Integration TU/e
Jelle Vastert — Former Director of Global EV Charging at Tesla
Lowie Vermeersch — Founder/Creative Director at Granstudio (Former Design Director Pininfarina)
Floris van de Klashorst — Former Senior VP Mobility Services at VW Group and VP Connected Driving at HERE
Innovation is part of Lightyear's DNA. We are located at the Automotive Campus in Helmond - part of the Brainport region of the Netherlands: the heart of European innovation.
For the development, production, assembly and testing of our products we work together with highly specialised and leading partners from the automotive industry. Lightyear is setting up its own network for the delivery and service of her vehicles and works with different commercial partners in order to make sure you can share or lease a Lightyear vehicle everywhere. Other partners provide valuable legal, HR, IT and organisational advice which support the growth of our company.
Deloitte
Building high-performance teams & organisation. Buy-in B2B platform
Granstudio — Styling
Italian design studio led by Lowie Vermeersch (ex Pininfarina Chief Design)
CSi — Structural engineering
German engineering company
FEV
German engineering consultancy provides world class engineering services
LeasePlan — Lease partner
Provides extensive B2B network and market insights
EP&C — Patent attorneys
High-tech industry specialists updating & maintaining our patent portfolio
Lightyear reaches $110 million (€93 million) funding milestone in 2021 YTD
Valmet Automotive will manufacture Lightyear One in Finland
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Lightyear Validation Prototype — first performance tests
Lightyear receives €20m investment from Dutch multinational SHV
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Lightyear & Bridgestone partnership
Lightyear successfully closes $45M funding round
Lightyear wins 2 Deloitte Fast 50 awards
First Lightyear Research Vehicles hit the road
Solar Impulse Label for Lightyear One
TIME Best Inventions 2019
Lightyear Partners with Deloitte.
LinkedIn Dutch Top Start-up 2019
Lightyear One Prototype Unveiling
Design Unveiling of Lightyear One
CES Climate Change Innovator Awards
Lightyear meets the public
Postcode Loterij Green Challenge Finalist
Lightyear is founded
Stella Lux is created
Stella wins a Crunchie
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